MOVES

Jim Di Filippo
Alcon Appoints Di Filippo New Head for Alcon U.S. Surgical

FORT WORTH, Texas—Alcon has appointed Jim Di Filippo as the new head for Alcon U.S. Surgical.

He will fill the position previously held by Seba Leoni, who was appointed to the new role of global head, surgical suite, Alcon Global Franchise.

Di Filippo most recently served as area vice president responsible for Alcon businesses in markets throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. He joined Alcon in 1992 as a pharmaceutical sales representative and has held roles of increasing responsibility. Most notably, Di Filippo served as global marketing director of IOLs, general manager of Alcon’s Canadian business, and then went on to assume the role of area vice president in Europe.


Guy Whittaker
CooperVision Names Whittaker as Vice President, Global Marketing

PLEASANTON, Calif.—CooperVision, Inc. announced that eye health industry veteran Guy Whittaker has been appointed vice president, global marketing. He will be responsible for advancing the company’s master and product brands, marketing its comprehensive range of contact lens products and services, and strengthening its reputation worldwide in collaboration with its customers, according to the company.

Whittaker, a former practicing optometrist, has held management roles with CooperVision since 1998. Most recently he was general manager, Australia/New Zealand & Southeast Asia, and vice president, strategy, Asia-Pacific, where he stimulated company and customer growth substantially above market rates. Prior, he held positions as vice president, marketing, Asia-Pacific; director of global marketing with responsibility for the launch of the Biofinity brand; and director of European marketing.

Earlier in his career, he led European Professional Services for the former Essilor and Ocular Sciences organizations, since acquired by CooperVision. He was also at the heart of significant growth at contact lens practices in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and helped establish the first laser refractive surgery center in Scotland.

Whittaker is based at CooperVision’s headquarters here. He was named to the role following the recent promotion of his predecessor, Jerry Warner, to president, North America.


Greg Lechner
Frameri Hires Greg Lechner, a Former Luxottica Executive, as New COO

CINCINNATI—Frameri, a Cincinnati-based company that makes eyewear with interchangeable frames and lenses, has hired Greg Lechner as chief operating officer. Most recently, Lechner was vice president of business development for Coastal.com, a major online eyewear retailer that is owned by Essilor. Before that, he served as vice president of strategic partnerships at Luxottica.



Rebecca Hildebrand
Optometry Cares—The AOA Foundation Names Rebecca Hildebrand Director

ST. LOUIS—Optometry Cares—The AOA Foundation, the charitable foundation of the American Optometric Association (AOA), has named Rebecca Hildebrand as its director. She joined Optometry Cares almost three years ago in August 2012 as development officer. She brings nearly 10 years of nonprofit development experience and has been a leader with several local and regional nonprofit organizations.



HONORS

Carmen Bauza
Carmen Bauza, Senior VP, Walmart U.S. Named Most Influential Woman by Mass Market Retailer

BENTONVILLE, Ark.—Mass Market Retailer, a business to business global mass retail newspaper, honored Carmen Bauza as their Most Influential Woman.

Bauza who is currently the senior vice president of Walmart U.S. was previously senior vice president and general merchandise manager of health and wellness at Walmart. She has been credited with being an integral player in the transformation of Walmart’s retail business by focusing on elements such as the customer, industry trends, improving operational execution and leveraging supplier collaboration.

“We believe Walmart is uniquely positioned to serve this changing customer better than any other retailer,” Bauza said.

Prior to working for Walmart, Bauza was the general merchandising manager for Bath and Body Works, spent 10 years with Disney Co.’s theme parks and resorts division and has more than 30 years of retail industry experience. Currently, her retail focus encompasses the evolving health and wellness spectrum and monitoring its implications for Walmart and its customers.

“Retail is a business that, in order to be successful, needs to be constantly reinvented,” she said. “You should always be looking for what’s next, which forces one to reinvent herself or himself as the business evolves.”


(L to R) Accepting the award Professor Robert Russo, Federation of Opticianary Schools. Handing the award to Professor Russo is Dr. Joseph A Bacotti MD; Peter Bacotti past president of OANY; Steven Lehrer, OANY; and Professor Kim Strickler, Federation of Opticianary Schools and a Professor at CUNY N.Y.
The Opticians Alliance of New York Celebrates its 10th Anniversary

NEW YORK—The Opticians Alliance of New York (OANY) celebrated its 10th anniversary here on June 18. The evening, which boasted an attendance of over 150 people, consisted of a dinner, awards and a sunglass fashion show put on by Maui Jim. Both members of the organization as well as other industry members were present.

Among the awards that were handed out during the anniversary celebration was the Joseph A. Bacotti award which went to a student at the Vision Care Technology Department of New York City College of Technology (CUNY).